BHW - 18/03/16

[willie reynolds]

Mid Antrim Combine AGM – The meeting for this season will take place as usual in the Harryville HPS Clubrooms at 8.00pm this Wednesday 16th March 2016. As was agreed at the AGM last season the fees would increase by £1, each loft must now pay £3.00. This will be the opportunity to discuss the NIPA Race Programme and maybe think about arranging a training race from say Navan on Saturday 9th July and then decide venue for the next two weeks Area Liberations. Two Delegates should attend from each member club to conduct the business.

Ballymena & District HPS members, those with ETS should fill Race Sheets in ASAP and let us know by text message when ready. We will then set a night for the clock to be updated and rings allocated. A bit of time to go before racing but we are starting early to have the ETS Clocks set up and ready to go. The T3 Clocks will be set up towards the end of March, members will be informed as we go along. This week 17th March is the deadline for the INFC Single Bird Challenge, it’s a free entry, don’t miss out! Also remember the deadline date for INFC Membership this year is earlier 12th April, make sure your Secretary has the Form away. Due to a change in circumstances Tom McAlonan will not be training birds this year, Homer will be collecting on the usual route. The opening race of the old bird season will be Tullamore on 9th April, weather permitting.

A sale in aid of the S.O.S. fund shall be held in Banbridge British Legion, on Thursday 17th March 2016 viewing from 7.00 pm, sale commencing @ 8.00pm A select number of fanciers from the IHU, EDC & the NIPA have supplied an excellent draft of youngsters for this sale. We would invite all fanciers to come along and enjoy the fellowship and participate in some light refreshment. Don’t miss this one!

A Spring Fayre is being held on Saturday 19th March 2016 with the event opening at 9am and closing 4.30 pm (approx) . Last season’s event was a tremendous success for all who had youngsters to sell with most SOLD OUT !!! At this event fanciers can purchase their last minute requirements prior to the racing season and avail themselves of youngsters for sale from various stalls. The venue for the event is the Six Mile Leisure Centre in Ballyclare. The response to the Fayre has been phenomenal with a number of stalls already confirmed including as follows ( please note this list can change at any time ) : Gem Supplements (R. Kirkwood); NCC One-Loft Race; Tom Cairns Wooden Products; Harmony Lofts (John & Viv Abernethy); Northern Ireland Middle Route; Cherryfield Lofts (Roy Kennedy); Blaris Lofts (H. Jennings & Son); H. McLaughlin (Pigeon Corn & Supplies); Benzing ETS; Fernlea Lofts; Andy Milliken Lofts – Birds (A. & R. Milliken & Brady); Blue Sky Products; Oroory Hill Stud (Mr & Mrs Delaney); The Office - Web Design; Telford Bros (Downpatrick); Kinallen View Lofts; Racing Pigeon Lab Testing; Anisan Loftcare , .Hire A Pen Stall , etc. Plus a star studded Charity Sale. A great day out for all the family. Bring the kids and they can enjoy the pool while you browse the Fayre. Please keep an eye on the Pigeon Craic website for any updates as and when anything happens. Interested in a stall ??? If so please feel free to contact New Kid on the Block. Tel: 07737 275820.

I have been informed by the NIPA Secretary Mr Fred Russell to mention the following in my column. The NIPA may be requiring drivers for the 2016 Season. Knowledge of pigeons and pigeon racing would be an advantage. Interested full time and temporary positions - If so please contact Fred Russell on Tel: (028) 92 693913 or Terry Mulgrew on Tel: 07711 849960. They will also take applications for the post of Fleet Supervisor. All races flown by the NIPA are official races and in this respect the additional races will carry Points for Fancier of the Year. The new Annual Booklet is due for delivery any day now and will be delivered to each club as usual. To enable a provisional result to be published the day following the race Clubs must Fax their Club Result to NIPA HQ before 10.00pm on the day of liberation. All paperwork including Rubbers and Basket Lists must be put on the Transporter at collection and then following the race Arrival Lists and results etc. can either be posted to the NIPA to arrive the next week or put on the Transporter. Lofts will be disqualified if all the paper work is not available to be checked. To save time it is essential all clubs have crates ready for collection when transporter arrives, take note of this or you will be hearing about it. It’s not fair clubs waiting until the wee small hours of the next morning for the final collections. The RPRA Council decision on cases involving NIPA lofts were as follows.

Appeals at RPRA Council Meeting in Coventry on Saturday 27/02/16

Appeal 1: Hearing under RPRA Rule 199 (Appendix G), Mr N Murtagh v RPRA (PED Test UK 1580).
The above appeal was considered by the Council of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association at their meeting held in the Coventry Hill Hotel, Coventry on Saturday 27th February 2016. It was the unanimous decision of Council of those present that the appeal be DISALLOWED on the grounds that – Mr Murtagh’s test sample returned a positive result for two banned substances. Mr Murtagh shall be expelled from the Association, Mr Murtagh can apply to the Council of the RPRA for reinstatements after 12 months.

Appeal 2: Re-hearing under RPRA Rule 83. Speirs & Campbell v NIPA. The appeal of Speirs & Campbell against the decision of the Irish Region Meeting held on 3rd October 2015. The above appeal was considered by the Council of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association at their meeting held in the Coventry Hill Hotel, Coventry on Saturday 27th February 2016. It was the majority decision of Council of those present that the appeal be ALLOWED with Council finding for Speirs & Campbell on the ground that they had fulfilled their obligations under RPRA Rule 112.

NIPA Result for St Malo OB National is available on the NIPA website and will be published again in BHW.

HOMER. Willie Reynolds
Tel/Fax: (028) 256 44683
Mobile: 07538 238364
Twitter: willie reynolds@homerbhw
Email: reynoldshomer@aol.com
www.pigeonnetwork.com
www.irishnationalflyingclub.com
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Photo attached - J McDowell & Sons from Ballymoney HPS, 1st & 2nd Open NIPA Talbenny YB National.